Davison was pillar of Scouting

By Letter to the Editor

The Georgia-Carolina Council and the Boy Scouts of America have lost a great leader with the passing of Dr. Fred Davison, our council president.

Dr. Davison had a long history with the Boy Scouts of America. We were the third council he served as president, and he was president of the Southeast Region (now Southern Region). He was a Silver Beaver recipient, Silver Antelope recipient and Georgia-Carolina Council Good Scout Award recipient.

Dr. Davison certainly wasn't about titles, positions or awards; he was all about bringing an exciting and challenging program to as many boys and girls as possible. He was all about telling how powerful Scouting was as a tool to develop young people. He was all about what America's strong, traditional values are and how important Scouting is in carrying those values forward. And boy was he proud of his sons' and grandsons' Scouting achievements.

Because of Fred Davison, Knox Scout Reservation got off the drawing boards and into an active and developing resource for both Scouting and the region. The camper cabins we will be building at camp are known as "Fred's Sheds," a name coined by Augusta Mayor Bob Young, and it stuck.

Because of Fred Davison, the Georgia-Carolina Council has begun a 16-county emphasis to bring Scouting and our area churches together in building a strong values base for the youth of our communities.

We will remember Dr. Davison for many, many years. His photograph hangs with other council presidents in Cates Hall of the Boardman Center for Scouting. The centerpiece of the room is an eagle print he donated to the council. Every person going on to Knox Scout Reservation will feel his spirit. And everyone associated with Scouting will remember his smile, his leadership and his passion for our movement.

While we have lost our president, his spirit is still leading and encouraging us on our honor, to do our best.

Bill Lesshafft, Augusta

(Editor's note; The author is scout executive for the Georgia-Carolina Council of the Boy Scouts of America.)